Russia agree to double the range of BrahMos Missile
- India and Russia have agreed to double the range of the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile from 290 km to over 600 km.
- The decision in this regard was taken during the meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Goa on the sidelines of the BRICS summit.
- Why this decision was taken? Earlier -India was denied access to the missile technology with range over 300 km as it was not member state of the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR).
- But India’s recent accession to MTCR, allowed Russia to provide the critical systems and technology to extend the range of the missile beyond 300km.
- It will enhance the stand-off capability and the operational radius in striking targets of the missile. It will have major force multiplier due its speed and accuracy.
National Ayurveda Day being observed
- The National Ayurveda Day is being observed on 28 oct 2016. The Ministry of AYUSH is organizing a day-long national seminar on Prevention and Control of Diabetes through Ayurveda in New Delhi. The Ministry will launch Mission Madhumeha through Ayurveda on this occasion.
The Mission Madhumeha will be implemented throughout the country through a specially designed National Treatment Protocol for effective management of Diabetes through Ayurveda
Antarctica’s Ross Sea declared world’s largest marine reserve
- Delegates from 24 countries and the European Union have agreed that the Ross Sea in Antarctica will become the world’s largest marine protected area (MPA).
Some 1.57 million sq km of the Southern Ocean will gain protection from fishing for 35 years.
Government approves the establishment of National Academic Depository.
- The decision aims at bringing another dimension and enhancement of the vision of Digital India.
- The NAD would be operationalised by NSDL Database Management Limited (NDML) and CDSL Ventures, Limited (CVL) – two of the wholly owned subsidiaries of the Depositories registered under Securities Exchange Board of India (SEBI) Act, 1992